Artist&#39;s folding kit box and working surface



Sept. 20, 1955 Filed Sept. 15, 1952 E. M. WRIGHT 2,718,447

ARTISTS FOLDING KIT BOX AND WORKING SURFACE 2 Sheets-Sheet l ETHEWIN M. WRIGHT INVENTOR Sept. 20, 1955 E. M. WRIGHT ARTISTS FOLDING KIT BOX AND WORKING SURFACE Filed Sept. 15, 1952 e 6 N y m IE ETHEWIN M.

ARTISTS FOLDING KIT BOX AND WORKING 1 SURFACE Ethewin M. Wright, Seattle, Wash.

- Application September 15, 1952, Serial'NO. 309,587 1 2 cl ims. c1.,s12-z41 any specialists, particularly artists, to have in one package all the essentials they need for their work so the same can "be conveniently stored with every element safely housedand which can be picked up and carried to a place of work. When at work the kit forms a convenient housing for all the various accessories and materials'normally used by a specialist and atthe same time it provides a suitableworking surface which can be held on the lap or propped at an angle for use of the same as the conventional easel. v

Artists compose a very large proportion of the specialists who have need for. distinctive carrying cases, however, there. are many other technicians, chemists, photographers, geologists, and'repair and service technicians in various lines who are required to carry with them a large number of units and if these are going to be practically available to them, they shouldihave a definite position in la'suitable kit ca'se. Then too'many of the specialists require paints orpils or liquid s'which; should preferably be carried or stored in an upright position.- This present kit box achieves all these various desirable characteristics. Furthe;- many of these specialists, and particularly artists, require a relatively large planesurface upon which to work. In this present kit case, the various hinged-together trays can be locked by suitable bars so thatthey will be retained in ,a fixed plane, yet the covers which form the working plane on top of the trays each can be opened if required to'givea'cce's's to the materials stored in those trays. In the past 'in'any "attempts have been made 'to provide carrying cases for the convenience of ar tists.',, However it is not sufficient to merely provide an openable case in .which a number of small trays are provided. It is necessary that a definite fixed position .be provided for each essential element and that these should all be readily available when the kit case is opened. Some of the kits that have been studied go part way in this direction. However, this particular invention provides means for carrying and for storing all thevarious .vials, and .bottles, and tubes which might spill, in a vertical position, thus minimizing leakage and making it possible .to conveniently carry equipment and materials that cannot be suitably carried :or stored in the majority of the. folding .kits that have been observed. It is therefore believed that a very worthwhile improvement is offered in this present invention over the kits that have been produced in the past, therefore:

An important object of this invention is to provide a unitary structure so arranged with a plurality of trays that each will normally carry bottles, tubes, and the like in an Patented Sept. 1955 upright position and hold them in that position during periods of storage.

A further object of this invention is to provide an artists or technicians kit which can be unfolded and locked securely in its unfolded position so as to provide a plane working surface of suitable'extent.

A further object is the provision of a folding carrying case and work kit which provides a fiat-firm working surface formed of a plurality of tray covers, each of which can be opened when the kit is in use.

A further object of this invention is to provide a foldable unit which may be unfolded and produce a plane surface of sufiicient length so that it may be used for work, or it might form the basis of a bed if made inadequate size.

Further objects, advantages and capabilities will be apparent from the description and disclosure in the drawings, or may be comprehended or are inherent in the device.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view showing a kit box made after the teachings of this present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the bottom surface of this folding container showing the manner in which it is locked to form a plane working surface;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through the various trays forming this carrying case and showing the manner in which ready access is available to the user of the same;

Figure 4 is an end view of this carrying case in its closed position; V 4

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing this carrying case in its open position with the tray covers closed to form a working surface. I

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawings, the numeral designates the cover portion of the folding container. Thisis preferably provided with a carrying handle as 12 and some form of snap closure member as 14 which resiliently engages an outstanding stud 16 secured to the outermost tray. These closure members occur in many types and it is only necessary that one be selected that gives a secure closure, otherwise the entire case could open and spill at least a portion of its contents.

Hingedly secured, as by hinge 18, to cover 10 is tray 20, and to tray 20 are successively hinged a plurality of trays as 22, 24 and 26. The manner of hinging these various trays together is illustrated best in Figure 3 in which it will be noted that tray 20 is hinged to top 10 at its lower margin at and at its upper margin to the next adjacent tray 22. Tray 22 is hinged to its adjacent tray 24 by hinge 32 disposed at the bottom of the trays, and in sequence tray 24 is secured to tray 26 by hinge 34 again disposed at the upper margins of the trays. This arrangement is necessary in order that the trays can be folded upon each other and come to rest as illustrated in Figures 1 and 4. The number of trays hingedly secured together is a matter of design and the arrangement will be workable as long as the-outlined sequence of hinging is observed. One means of securing the bottom edges of the trays together in the carrying position is shown in Figure 4 and comprises a latch 35 pivoted on pin 36 secured to tray 24 and having a slot 37 engaging headed detent 38 on tray 22. a

Referring particularly to Figure 2 of the drawingsfithe method in which the trays are held in a fixed'plane is illustrated. This consists of a'plurality of bars'as '40 and 42 which are pivotably secured to fixed pivots 44 and 45' respectively on the end trays as will be noted. Each of bars and 42 is provided with an elongated slot 46 which engages the pivot member, usually a rivet as 44 and 45. Then throughout the length of the locking bars 40 and 42 bayonet slot arrangements are provided as at 48 and 50. These bayonet slots are arranged to engage outstanding headed detents as 52 in order to lock the trays in their plane position. The detents are engaged in the open throats of the bayonet slots and then bars 40 and 42 are moved longitudinally as permitted by slot 46 until a firm engagement is made with the various detents. When properly proportioned; this arrangement gives a very rigid locking, so secure in fact that in larger sizes this arrangement provides a very adequate means for constructing a foldable top or cover and opens up whole new uses for this structure. When the locking bars 40 and 42 are notinuse they are carried on the outside of the folded kit case after the showing of Figure 1. In order that the outstanding detents 52 will not interfere with the foldingof the kit, openings are provided as at 54 in certain of the trays so that when the adjacent trays, as for instance 22 and 24 are folded, the detents will find openings into which they can be seated and thus not interfere with the folding arrangement.

In order to provide a working surface and take full advantage of the locking arrangement previously described, it has been found convenient to provide at least the majority ofthe hinged trays with cover members as 62, 64 and 66 which form covers for trays 22, 24 and 26 respectively. The manner in which these covers are hinged is best illustrated in Figure 3 and their position when in use is best illustrated in Figure in which it will be noted that a very substantial fiat surface is provided. This normally provides a drawing board or easel effect for an artist, and for technicians in other fields this may be used as a working surface.

, Each of the various trays is normally provided with partitions or securing means so that all the accessories, paints, and liquids which an artist or a technician may usecan be stored in proper positions. In considering these partitions and resilient holding members, they should be so disposed that when the case is in its folded position as in Figure 4, thermouths of all bottles, tubes and the like will be uppermost so that when the equipment is being carried there is a minimum danger of spillage, and during long periods of storage, there would be no loss of materials through improperly closing the stopper or the screw closure on any of the materials. For an artists use the most convenient partitioning arrangement is illustrated as part of cover and trays 22 and 24. This consists of a rod or resilient tension member 70 spaced above the bottom of the trays so that when the tray is folded this member will be uppermost and will restrain any tube or bottle from tipping. At the bottom of the trays a restraining band is provided at 72. This should again be likened to the purpose for which the equipment is used, normally a rigid form of band is most satisfactory, with suitable partitions throughout its length if such are indicated as desirable. For certain other purposes as shown in tray 26, it has been found desirable to employ opposed resilient clips 74 and 76. In some cases these clips maybe changedto complete circles in which case it is necessary to slide the tube or the like endwise and to that end tray 26 is provided with an open end at 80 and a portion of cover 66 as 82 is bent downwardly to form a closure for the. same. Cover member 10 should be arranged to adequately hold in position those items of most common use and to be used in conjunction with tray to make readily available the items which will be used fromtime totime, leaving the balance of the trays to the storage of those items of less frequent use. With this thought, in mind tit has been found convenient to couple. cover l o and tray 20 by an elongated link as 84 disposedto be slidableupon retaining headed rivets or detents after the showing of Figures 3 and 5.

M It is believedthat it will be clearly apparent from the above description and the disclosure in the drawings that the invention comprehends a novel construction of an artists folding kit box and working surface.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A portable folding kit box for artists such as painters, comprising: a first, second, third and fourth elongated tray and an elongated cover disposed serially in side-byside relationship, the trays having abutting side walls and trays and cover having hinge means connecting them together, said second and third trays being connected at their adjacent bottom side margins, said first tray being connected to said second tray and said third tray being connected to said fourth tray at adjacent top side margins, whereby said trays are foldable in an accordion manner and said cover having a central exposed handle for carrying the assembly when so folded, a side margin of said cover being connected to the adjacent side margin of the adjacent end tray and said cover being of asize to lap said trays when they are bunched in an accordion manner and having securing means attachable to the tray at the other end of the series to secure the assembly for carrying and means for latching together the portions of said second and third trays opposite their hinged connection to prevent separation when the trays are folded forcarrying; holding means in said trays operative to hold bottles, tubes and the like in said trays in an upright position when said trays are bunched in an accordion manner for storage and carrying an elongated bar and interengaging locking means between said bar and said trays operative in locked position to rigidly secure the trays together when'they are in extended position preventing folding; and cover members connected to said trays forming together a flat working surface when said trays are disposed in said extended position.

2. A portable folding kit box for artists and the like, comprising: a first, second, third and fourth elongated tray and an elongated tray-like cover disposed serially in side-by-side relationship, the trays having abutting side walls and the trays and cover having hinge means connecting them together, said second and third trays being connected at their adjacent bottom side margins, said'firs t tray'being connected to said second'tray and said third tray being concentrated to said fourth tray at adjacent top side margins, whereby said trays are foldablc in an accordion'manner and said cover having a central exposed handle for carrying the assembly when so folded, a side margin of said cover being connected to the adjacent side margin of 'the adjacent end tray and said cover being of a size to lap said trays when they are bunched in an accordion manner and having securing means attachable to the tray at the other end of the series to secure the assembly for carrying and means for latching together the portions of said second and third trays opposite their hinged connection to prevent separation wheu'the trays are folded for carrying; and an elongated bar and interengaging locking means between said bar and said trays operative in locked position to rigidly secure the trays together when they are in extended position preventing folding.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS v1,213,976. Tenley Ian. 30, 1917 

